Improvement in clutch-boxes



llowin g is a specification UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcEl HENRY MARTIN,oF GRAND. TRUNK JUNCTION, MICHIGAN..

IMPROVEMENT IN CLU'i'CH-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters `Patent No. 176,976, dated May 2,1876; application filed June 29, 1875.

and State of Michigan, have invented an Improvement in Clutch-Boxes, ofwhich the fol- My invention has for its object to provide a means forquickly and easily uncoupling the sliding gland of a clutch-box from itsstationary counterpart on the shaft during the revolution of said shaft;and it consists in forming upon thel sliding gland or sleeve a spiralrib or thread, of one-half a convolution,

-or thereabout, whose pitch is equal to a little more than the depth ofthe detents 011 the end of said clutch-box, `and in combinationtherewith a lever xed at one end to some portion of the frame-work, inwhich the shaft runs, so arranged as to be lifted to come between thespiral rib and the fixed counterpart, and cause the rib, in rotatingagainst its edge, to propel the clutch-sleeve `away from, and out ofengagement with, its counterpart, which is thus brought to a stand-stillin about a half-revolution of the shaft.V Y Y v Figure l is aperspective View of my improved clutch-box and its shaft journaled in aframe-Work. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, showing the clutch-box engagedwith its Vcounterpart. Fig. 3 is a .perspective view, showing the partsdisengaged.

In the drawing, A represents aframe-Work, in which a shaft, B, isjournaled in suitable bearings. D is the sliding gland or'sleeve of anordinarycluteh-box feathered on said shaft, and D is its counterpart,revolving loosely on said shaft, except when the part D is engagedtherewith, it being moved up by an ordinary shipper-lever. (Not shown.)On the gland or sleeve D there is cast a spiral rib, a, of little morethan a half-revolution, and whose pitch is a little more than the depthof the detents at the end of the clutch-box. b is a lever let into theframe-Work at one end, and extending ac ross the axisof the shaft B,just tangent to the periphery of the spiral rib, but capable of beingraised up into con tact with the clutchsleeve between the clutch-pulleyD' and the rib, and its Width is such as that the outer or further endof said rib will take againstv its edge when it comes around, and, inthe rotation of the shaft, will bear against it, propelling itself andthe movable gland awa-y from, and out 0f engagement with, thecounterpart D, so that the latter will be free as soon as one-half arevolution of the shaft is made.

Heavy machinery, where clutch-gearing ,is used, is dicult to throw outof gear by means of the ordinary shippers when in motion, and it isoften y important to stop the machinery instantly-as, for instance, in abrick-machine, when a stone gets into the mold-in order to preventbreakage and damage. Such ma` chinery cannot be stoppedV with the clutchshipping-lever heretofore in common use before a number of revolutionsof the shaft have been made, and in many cases with great dam'- age,while it is evident that any child having strength enough to raise thelever b can throw the clutch-pulley out of gearinsta-ntly.

What I claim as my invention is- The combination, with the frame-work -Aand shaft B, of the clutch-sleeves D D', the sleeve D having the spiralrib a cast thereon, and the spring-lever b let into the frame at oneend, and extending across the axis of the shaft, all constructed andarranged substantially as described and shown. y

- HENRY MARTIN.

l Witnesses: j

H. S. SPRAGUE, H. E. EEERTS.

